GPEC Search Firm Selection Irks Local Firms

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council's decision to hire a Florida-based firm to head the search for the group's next president frustrated leaders of several local executive-search firms, who believe they were snubbed."They didn't even give any of us a chance to make a presentation," said Chuck Pearson, chief executive officer of Pearson & Associates Inc., a Phoenix-based executive-search firm.
 
Pearson and several others said they were miffed as to why an organization with a mission to attract high-wage jobs to the Valley would not give more weight to local firms in its selection process. The chosen firm, Joan Jorgenson Consulting, based in Jupiter, Fla., has already begun work to replace Rick Weddle, who left last week to head the Research Triangle Park Foundation in North Carolina.
 
These are senstive issues. Not an easy call for an organization like GPEC. My advice is to go with the best. In this case, Joan Jorgenson brings a wealth of experience to the job. That is not to say that Greater Phoenix area firms could not do the job, but Jorgenson's network is hard to match.
 
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